APR News and Media

October 31, 2017 - Plastics Recycling Update

APR Member Highlight - KW Plastics

KW Predicts 10 Percent Demand Boost For One Resin

A plastics recycling giant in Alabama will likely be significantly increasing its output of recycled natural HDPE after receiving a letter of no objection (LNO) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The development will also mean more procurement of HDPE bales by KW Plastics.

“The demand we’ll see from our sales side will make its way directly down the supply chain,” said Stephanie Baker, director of market development for the recycling division of KW Plastics. “I expect we will be buying more than we ever have before.”

The Troy, Ala.-based plastics processor and resin producer announced this morning it had been granted the LNO for its KWR101-150 product. The letter opens the door for utilization of the resin at up to 100 percent recycled content under the FDA’s E-G conditions of use categories. That designation essentially means the resin can be used to hold contents that are at room temperature or below.

Baker said the resin noted in the LNO is already a staple of the KW product portfolio. Now, however, the company will be able to push it out to more buyers who are aiming to use recycled natural HDPE in food-contact applications. Baker said brand owners in the personal care category have been especially hungry for this kind of product.

Scott Saunders, general manager of recycling at KW, said the company expects demand for the resin will immediately jump by 8 to 10 percent.

“KW invested the research and development towards this resin so that we can better serve our customers and meet their demand for more sensitive applications,” Saunders noted in a press release.